12 Common Laundry Problems and How to Fix Them

From Stains to Shrinkage, Here's How to Tackle Laundry Problems

Who has never had a laundry disaster? They can happen due to carelessness or equipment issues. Not every problem has an easy fix and some have none. But, many can be corrected and you learn not to do it again. Where to start? How about how to find your washer and dryer manuals?

Did you mistakenly throw a wool sweater into the washer in hot water and seen it shrink to nearly doll-size? Before you relegate it to the toy box, try this technique that could save your clothing investment.

Pens leak, but many ink stains can be removed if treated properly. It's best to catch this before you put the clothes in the dryer. But if the source is that you've accidentally laundered a pen with the clothes, you'll want to know how to clean ink from the washer and dryer as well.

Is all of your underwear now pink due to that rogue red sock in a load of whites? Did that tie-dyed shirt turn a whole load of laundry tie-dye? But the offending dye can almost always be removed if you follow these steps.

Lip balm such as Chapstick can easily end up going through a laundry cycle when it's forgotten in a pocket. It creates a combination stain of wax, oil, and sometimes dye. The key is to successful removal is to tackle all of the components as soon as possible.

Most of the time, crayons don't leave significant stains or marks on fabrics unless the crayon wax melts. Unfortunately, this will happen in the dryer if they make it through the washing cycle undetected. Here's how to tackle those crayon stains.

Too much heat from an iron can damage some garments permanently. However, if your shirt or pants are made from cotton, linen, ramie, rayon or wool fabric you may be able to save it. The bad news is that the fabric will still be weakened in the scorched area, so you'll also need to develop ways to prevent this problem.

Front loading washers tend to hold odors and have mechanical problems due to improper use and cleaning. The sources include residue from detergents and fabric softeners. You can also grow mold and mildew in warm, humid climates. Here is what you need to do to keep your washer fresh so your laundry will be fresh as well.

Many problems with washing machines can be solved without a service call. Follow these seven tips to help you diagnose the problem, and you may even be able to solve it without a visit from the repairman.

Clothes dryers are actually fairly simple machines. Go through this list of tips when it isn't working right and you may be able to solve the problem. At least you can narrow it down for the repairman if you still need one.